Your Baby’s Development

Every baby is unique and develops at their own pace. If you or anyone who cares for your child has concern for your baby’s development, help is available at no charge to you.

What is Early Start?

It is a statewide system of family-centered early intervention services for infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months of age. This program is coordinated by regional centers and public education.

When is Early Start Helpful?

Delay: For children with a developmental delay in the following areas:  

Social — emotions, interacting with others.

Adaptive — daily activities such as eating and dressing.

Physical — large and small movements.

Communication — receptive and expressive communication development.

Cognitive — thinking and problem-solving.

High risk: There are many factors during pregnancy and birth that can increase a child’s risk for a developmental disability such as:

Prematurity of < 32 weeks and/or low birth weight. 

Prenatal substance exposure.

Or an infant or toddler born to a parent with a developmental disability.

Established risk:  Children born with conditions like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or fetal alcohol syndrome have a higher chance of having a disability or developmental delay.

Services in the Early Start Program

Each eligible child will be assigned a Service Coordinator to help organize early intervention services.

Services are family-centered, based on the needs of your child and available resources.

Services are provided in the child’s natural environment, such as the home or community.

Possible services include:

Specialized early education provided at home or in the community.

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech/language therapy.

Behavioral support services.

Access to Family Resource Centers for parent-to-parent support.

These services are written in an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) within 45 days of referral.

The Early Start Team

Our team believes that you know your child best. We respect family values, culture, language and ethnicity. Parents are the most important members of the Early Start team. Parents, Service Coordinators, and other professionals work together to assist children in reaching their developmental potential.

Family Resource Centers

Family Resource Centers work in partnership with regional centers to help meet the needs in their communities. These centers provide a vital network of parent support, including a way for parents to connect with other parents in similar situations. They offer a variety of supports that include information and referral, peer support, home visits and parent education. They also publish regular newsletters and calendars of local support groups and events, with information about clubs, social programs, classes, and other community resources.

San Luis Obispo County – Parents Helping Parents

San Luis Obispo (800) 456-4153 x3277 • (805) 543-3277

Atascadero (805) 461-7415

php@ucp-slo.org, www.phpslo.org

Santa Barbara County – Alpha Resource Center

Santa Barbara (877) 414-6227  •  (805) 683-2145 

Santa Maria (805) 347-2775

info@alphasb.org, www.alphasb.org

Ventura County – Rainbow Connection Family Resource Center

Oxnard (805) 485-9643  •  español (805) 485-9892

Simi Valley (805) 823-2325  •  Fillmore (805) 292-0460

rainbow@tri-counties.org

www.rainbowconnectionfrc.weebly.com